This is my 4th episode of The Life of Anne Abbott.  It is dedicated to the memory of my dear friend Cookie, also known as Yolanda Kearns. I explore the events that led up to her death, and I also look at the many ways in which social services fails people with disabilities.

Cheers, Cookie.

Anne

This is my very favourite episode ... so far. In this episode, I talk about how Simone and I went to a friend's birthday party together.  There, much to my surprise, I met one of my late father's friends, someone who had worked along side him at SunCor many years ago.  During that eventful evening, I couldn't help but reflect upon my life and how I had come to be where I am.

Hello, and welcome to the life of Anne Abbott. This is August 23, 2007.  Today, I'm promoting an event, or action, if you will, hosted by  T.A.P., which is part of the  Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, or OCAP. Since my group, Independence Unlimited, is affiliated with OCAP, and because I really respect what  T.A.P. is going to do with this action, I offered to do a podcast on it so people will know where and when it will be, as well as what we're fighting for.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES UNITE!  We demand dignity, access, and independence!

On Wednesday, September 26, 2007, at 11:30 am, there will be an action at MacDonald Block, 900 Bay Street in Toronto, south of Wellesley, home to various ministries of Ontario's provincial government.

Our list of demands will include:

1.  Remove all barriers from ODSP.
This includes all incentives towards work, savings, marriage & common law partnership as they constitute a direct attack upon the disabled Ontarians independence and freedom.

2.  Lift the arbitrary caps placed upon Direct Funding for Attendant Care.
There are only 700 spots for disabled people to get Direct Funding, but there are literally thousands on the waiting list who require the service and have a right to it. Further, stop using attendant care limitations to restrict the lives of people with disabilities.  Eliminate the cap on the Direct Funding program!  Six hours of personal assistance a day is not enough!

3. Provide assistive devices and personal aid devices to all low-income people without prejudice.  People should not have to jump through rings of fire just so they can receive what they really need in order to live a productive, independent  life.

4. Make accessibility legislation mean something!
The Ontario government must pass an enforceable law that take effect immediately and provide adequate funding to make things accessible. In particular, the government must pay special attention to building more accessible and affordable housing and take immediate action to ensure that all public transportation is barrier free. Bill 107  states that by 2025, all of Ontario will be barrier free for people with disabilities.  We say that 2025 is way too far away to have any meaningful effects on our lives! Thousands of people with disabilities will be dead by then, never to see an accessible Ontario, an Ontario where we are all equal.

5. Stop psychiatric abuse.
The government must immediately stop participating in and carrying out abusive practices on persons with disabilities. The use of electroshock must cease immediately, putting Ontario in line with its human rights responsibilities. All community treatment orders must be rescinded. The government must stop
forcing people with disabilities to take drugs against their will. Redirect funding from institutions to psychiatric survivor initiatives.

Remember, Wednesday September 26th, at MacDonald Block, 900 Bay Street.  Be there, and fight for your rights.

As I finish this podcast, I think of how ironic it is, or, perhaps how apt it is, that I was stood up today by the Honourable Minister of Health, George Smitherman.  On August 16th, I received an email from Mr Smitherman's assistant, saying that the Minister wanted to come over to my home to discuss the issues I had brought up to him on June 9th, as well as to see some of  my paintings.  I was thrilled!  And I responded right away, saying I was free today, August 23rd, at 1 p m, if it was convenient for him.  I waited for a response, an answer from him, saying if the day & time were suitable for his busy schedule. I would have been fine if Mr Smitherman had said he would have preferred another time & date.  All I got was an email from Mr Smitherman's assistant yesterday, yesterday mind you! saying that he didn't think it was written down in Mr Smitherman's schedule book that he was going to see me today.  Well, thanks a lot, George!  I feel like a jilted lover.  I got all gussied up, did a major tidy up  of my apartment, and was really looking forward to picking your brain about Direct Funding and ODSP.  Oh well, you can run, George, but you can not hide!

In this episode, Lamia and I talk about how I met my husband and a few other things.

Welcome to my new Podcast. This episode is a video intro to my audio Podcast to give you an idea of what "The Life Of Anne Abbott" is about and how we put it together. It was recorded a while ago, so it may not be close to how we do it now, but it's still an intro to the show.